Franklin D Roosevelt's Postage Stamp Quilt (in cotton fabric and stamps!)

I recently referred to a connection between stamps, stamp collecting and quilts, all of which I'm interested in. Learning that the 32nd President of the USA, Franklin D Roosevelt was known as the Stamp collecting president, I've been reading about his love of the hobby and how he learned so much about the geography and history of the USA from stamps and went on to become involved in their design.  He was instrumental in the first stamp issued to commemmorate Mother's day in 1934. This stamp featured the painting "My Mother" by the American artist Whistler - and the president said it would be great if Americans could send a card to their mother with this 3c  stamp on the envelope on Mother's Day.  FDR was responsible for advising on the issue of approximately 200 US stamps during his presidency, including some of the first Airmail stamps, and stamps commemmorating some of the National Parks of the USA which would help to boost tourism.
The link between this and my own work, creating a "quilt" design made of stamps has been the result of another discovery relating to Franklin D Roosevelt and his stamp collection.  I've just read a very interesting book by the author and quilter Kyra Hicks, who has carried out research about a presidential gift to FDR of a "Postage Stamp Quilt".  This was a quilt made by an African American named Estella Weaver Nukes from tiny, postage stamp size, pieces of cotton fabric.  This quilt has never been found but it is thought that Estella made several quilts.

Franklin Roosevelt's Postage Stamp quilt by Kyra Hicks

 My second "Stamp Quilt" is now in the design stage and I'm hoping to incorporate more American stamps and maybe include some of the many stamps I have showing the Stamp Collecting president, FDR.

I've spent hours today sorting out a huge bag of stamps from the USA with the iconic images of the Stars and Stripes, Statue of Liberty, Presidents of the USA, and the American Eagle in many different shades. It's just a case of deciding which to choose to make up a quilt design!

Quilt collection at the American Museum ... and on US stamps

The American Museum at Claverton, Bath has a wonderful collection of hand made quilts from early 1800s to modern times. You can get in very close to examine the intricate work which is on display in the Quilt room and regularly rotated to ensure that the quilts are maintained and preserved at their very best.

I'm hoping to combine my interest in stamp collage, with making my own stamp quilt, but in a much smaller size, suitable for framing, having been inspired by this great collection. I have a large amount of US stamps which will be just perfect - just hope I've got as much patience as the American quilters obviously had!

The stamps shown below depict one of the quilt motifs seen at the Museum.  I also came across other memorabilia in the museum which has been the subject of US stamp issues and will feature these on a different post.

Embroidered detail from a patchwork quilt  on display in the American Museum in Bath

I was pleased to see this design as I had recently found a set of US Stamps depicting this popular basket motif
(see below)

Nine patch quilt

I'm always interested to see fine hand-crafted items and these quilts are very special!